Momatt

The birth of a tool video certainly struck a cord in me. I have been a woodworker and green wood worker for years, and had an interest in hewing axes. Soon after John's video went viral, about a year ago, I saw his baltic goosewing broadaxe and had to have one. I ordered it and paid half in early May 2012, still waiting. Half a world away I was willing pay for the idea. A master smithe working in a tumble-down workshop hidden in a forest using the old ways, but with access to modern steel and precision heat treat that this forebearers did without, turning out the best tools of this type made in any time and in any place by anyone in the history of the world. I think its his video that got me interested in blacksmithing and set me on my current path. I had no idea then that before I recieved my axe I'd have my own forge, my own anvil and be using tools I made myself crude though they may be. Knives I am now making for my friends and family have handles made from the limb of a tree where a childhood swing once hung, or a piece of a fence post from the family farm, leather washers in the handle from the tongue of a beloved granpa's boot. Another's blade forged from the leafspring of another Grandpa's 1940s grain truck. Tools can become more than the sum of thier parts, tailismons even. I'll never meet John Neeman, but I feel connected to him, and that perhaps I even owe him something--though he still owes me an Axe!.

No help on the maker but its a common broad axe. I have and use several just like it. Its a reversable pattern flip teh head and its good for a right or left handed hewing. The handle would have been bent to clear the log. Check out mud pond hewing to see on in action.

Glen, the blade is about 3 inches wide. I didn't quench partly because I don't know any better and because I thought it needs toughness not to hold an edge. I just rived a Handle it works!

I am brand new to this stuff. Was pleased how this bark spud turned out my first socket rolled up on the horn. I used the old historical circle shape figuring most old tools assumed shapes for a reason. My brother has a bandsaw mill and this will save him some wear on blades. A piece of 5160 no quench.

Hi I am new to this. I made two littl efroes out of farriers rasp with a wrapped eye and weld using borax as flux. They seemed to hold. I wanted a stouter froe, so I ordered a 1/4 inch piece of 5160. It was hot rasped it to make sure it was clean where the weld would go and scarfed. Used the borax and heated till bright yellow white (no sparks) tried it numerous times till I thought I had at least a partial weld. Trying to straighten it the entire piece separated. I am using a chili brand gas forge its plenty hot based on what videos I have watched. I really want to learn to forge weld as many of the tools I want to make have eyes or sockets. Any tips appreciated.

You could make some hardy tools.

I am new to this. Today I made my first tool and forge weld. Took an old farrier rasp, cut off the tang, drew out a tail and forge welded the eye to make this little froe. It seems to have held I torqued the handle pretty good testing it. Would be better if I had some more thickness but I was able to get a wedge profile. Something besides tongs and hooks at least my wife said.

Thanks for the information. I will go easy, though trying to form the 1-inch stock calls for some hammering.

If you don't have a swage block, is it dangerous to use the hardy hole in terms of potentially breaking the anvil?

That is a great knife. I'd love to hear about the steels used and how you forge welded them together.